Politecol

– why getting rid of domestic cats will not result in more rats killing more wildlife. One of the leading cautions after Dr. Gareth Morgan’s call for controls on cat numbers and ownership was the concern that if cat numbers were reduced other predators of native wildlife, especially rats, would increase in number because cats also … Read More

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Domestic cats kill native animals – fact. But… … just because our cats kill it does not necessarily mean that native animal populations cannot co-exist, or even thrive, where our feline companions live. Two considerations determine whether cat-kill exterminates native prey populations: 1. how many cats there are, and 2. how fast native animal populations in our backyards … Read More

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The commentary of the last few days following Dr. Gareth Morgan’s media release has focussed too much on the messenger and how the message was delivered rather than understanding the problem and potential solutions. Some have described his views as extreme but whether or not they are extreme is less important than whether or not … Read More

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Gareth Morgan’s call for the gradual reduction in cat numbers and ownership, especially from parts of New Zealand near places where our nation’s biodiversity live is a welcome ‘public face’ to a long-running discussion amongst ecological scientists and conservationists. Commentators and media, unfortunately, have made a hash of Dr. Morgan’s suggestion – reinterpretation towards misrepresentation. Read More

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The 3 Rs, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, have become a mantra – an axiom with extraordinary reach across communities, cultures and nations for the more efficient use of natural resources, primarily by reducing waste. It is a leading example of the power of slogan and motif – communications and marketing – to change environmental behaviour. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, also called … Read More

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Weekly newspaper columnists most often opine on people and society. Michael Laws, in his weekly Sunday Star Times column, has a particular trenchant for admonishing people with fewer resources than himself. This Sunday, Laws advocated gardening to the poor in “Want to eat well? Simply grow your own food” (Sunday Star Times January 6th). Seldom do weekly columnists … Read More

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– did Happy-feet’s visit increase support for conservation? You are sick, tired, and thousands of miles from home. Swimming, you pull up yourself up on a beach for a rest. Within hours you are surrounding by hairless primates who stare and take photographs. Within days you … Read More

  Elephant in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa. Photo credit: Chris Kelly. Frighteningly, resurgent ivory demand threatens elephant with extinction over large areas of their range. It is a world-war for wildlife on a massive scale. Governments, conservation agencies and private landowners are mobilised across Africa and Asia spending enormous amounts of money to … Read More

Pesky varmints – not a cartoon, not a dream, but a real-life nightmare in New Zealand. “Did you know New Zealand has a pest problem?” New Zealand is waking up from a nightmare to discover it is real. At least 2788 New Zealand species are threatened with extinction. Our iconic native … Read More

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It is a magnificent feeling of accomplishment and camaraderie when we rescue, rehabilitate (rehab) and release a wild animal back to its home – the culmination of a considerable emotional, community, and scientific (largely veterinary) investment. Many of us not involved admire the people who rescue and rehab wild animals. We assume that wildlife rehab … Read More

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